Snowmass opens Thanksgiving Day, but terrain will be limited

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Snowmass ski area will open on Thanksgiving Day as planned, but with limited terrain for skiers and boarders.According to Aspen Skiing Co. spokesman Jeff Hanle, the Elk Camp Gondola, Meadows chair, Sky Cab and Village Express to the mid-station will be running, with access to Upper Scooper, Lower Hal's, Fanny Hill and Dawdler. There will be about a half-dozen urban hits and features on skier's left of Dawdler."Max Park and Lunchline are a few nights of snowmaking away from the green category and the connection to the base of the Big Burn Chair, and thus Sneaky's, is not far behind," Hanle noted in an email Monday.In addition, the Treehouse will be open for younger guests and the Ski & Snowboard School will offer lessons on the terrain that is open. The new Elk Camp restaurant will also open for business on Thursday.Lift ticket pricing had not been determined as of Monday night, but the Skico did announce that foot passengers can ride the gondolas at Aspen and Snowmass for free on Thanksgiving Day.At Ajax, skiing will be similarly limited, however."We're a storm away from top to bottom skiing, so we'll have an old school - pre-1986 - opening with the Little Nell and Bell Mountain chairs accessing Deer Park, Spar and Little Nell," Hanle said.The World Cup races on the Lift 1A side of Aspen Mountain are on as planned, with women competing Saturday and Sunday in giant slalom and slalom. Aspen Highlands is scheduled to open Dec. 8, with Buttermilk following on Dec. 15.jmcgovern@aspentimes.com